The end.

This post is slightly delayed since I left Russia on the 17th August, mainly because I've been so busy being a jet setter and settling in back home. So, after three challenging but great months in Russia, and an even more challenging but great 7 months in France, I am back on British turf - and it feels bittersweet.

I spent the last few weeks in Russia ticking off 'touristy' things that I had always planned on doing but had the attitude of "I'm here for 13 weeks, I'll save that one for next month." I managed to see/do everything I wanted to though, so the system does work! On that note, I'm going to do a post about the top attractions in St Petersburg, because it's an absolutely beautiful city and I want the world to see that too.

When my time in St Petersburg was nearing its end, I felt both excited and sad. Excited, that after a long year I was finally going back to the UK and not stepping foot on a plane in the foreseeable future. There was however, a ten day break between leaving Russia and coming home, which I spent in numerous European cities - namely in Bulgaria, Budapest, Rome and Cannes/Nice/Monaco, but more on that in a later post! After this travelling stint, I couldn't wait to get home, unpack my suitcase and leave it that way. No more living out of a case, anxiously awaiting my next flight in a mere couple of days. No more throwing up on planes because I'm a baby and can't handle turbulence. To have even a week without this sounds like heaven to me right now!

However, I was also gutted that leaving Russia meant the end of my year abroad. I cannot begin to explain how great this last year has been, as cliché as that may sound. I have learned so much about myself, met some incredible people from around the world (I have American friends now!), and been given so many great opportunities in the process. Now that I'm home, I'm hearing of friends whose year abroads are just beginning, and to them I say - good luck, make the most of every moment and please don't splash it across Facebook and Twitter, because I will 'unfriend' you purely out of jealousy.